Florida Pastor Who Vowed to Burn Korans Billed for Security; Says Church Would Go Bankrupt

The controversial Florida pastor who threatened to burn Korans on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is expected to be billed at least $200,000 by the city of Gainesville for costs associated with the stunt.

Pastor Terry Jones, who got international attention with his on-again, off-again plan to burn 200 copies of Islam’s holiest book, said the costs would essentially bankrupt his 50-member church, the Dove World Outreach Center.

Jones, 58, vowed to fight the security bill in court and said he plans to move his church to Tampa because of what he called a lack of support in Gainesville.

The maverick preacher eventually called off his protest after increasing pressure from Washington and beyond.

The ‘pastor’ — a misnomer in this case — should spend more time with his Bible (where among other things he could have learned something about counting the cost before starting a project) and less time acting foolishly.